Tree Fruit: Harvest-Assist Technology: Getting Closer

摘要

HARVEST is finally winding down for tree fruit growers. Throughout the country apple and pear prices are good, and could get better. The sweet cherry season could have been better, but was a welcome rebound from 2009. However, this is farming, so there must be a dark cloud somewhere. Labor, unfortunately, might be the most ominous cloud on the horizon. Thanks to a down economy, we have enough orchard workers for now, but just barely. In 2010, H-2A programs, while working for some operations, are clearly not suited to provide the hundreds of thousands of workers needed in orchards throughout the country. And we cannot rely on Stephen Colbert, either.